Repo Records [Philadelphia PA]

About 2 1/2 years ago I got to hit up Philly under the same circumstances (same customer in Gap PA).  Once again, I made sure to budget an extra day into things to get around.  I had three cheesesteaks (along with the two I had on my first trip), as well as a pork sandwich, and besides the light weight record hunting I did in nearby Delaware and New Jersey, I did get into the city to check out a legit record store where I did strike a jackpot!

Repo Records is a chill spot in a hip neighborhood of which I do not know the name.  I came out this way to check out Woodrow's cheesesteaks which I heard (read) were solid- they were.  But I happened about Repo Record as I strolled down the street.  So after I went and devoured my cheesesteak, I went right back the way I came to see what they had going on in there.

                            

I dug around a while then even went and checked out the T-shirts.  They had quite a selection and I did not bring enough clothes as I sweat through everything in the sweltering heat that laid itself over the coast that week.  They didn't have much in an XXL, I did see one decent Iron Maiden shirt but I decided against it for $23.  So I got back to the records and finally found the jazz bin, so I tore it up.

If you know me, you know my predisposition toward CTI, and you know love for the 3000 series.  If you look in the lower left hand corner you will see the 'A' section, and of course some Cannonball.  And if you look even more closely in the upper right hand corner ('Z' section), you will see Cannonball's brother, Nat.  What he was doing in the 'Z' section I do not know, but it is that old adage for crate diggers: if you don't take the time to go through everything, you will miss something, maybe that which you desire the most.  In this case, it was just about the only thing I desired but man did I desire this one! I have seen it once or twice in the wild over the years, most memorably long ago at Logan Hardware as a promo.  Well here I only paid $8 compared to the $20+ I saw as a price tag on that day (which quite honestly, isn't that bad of a deal for the promo).  I have seen since that they did manufacture this album in a plain white sleeve as well so I am glad I got the real deal with the silver foil.

I later located the dollar bin in the back of the store and half heartedly went through it
but didn't come up with anything much of interest.

Village Thrift [Pennsauken Township NJ]

After driving from Coatesville Pennsylvania to Wilmington Delaware, I made the trip north to New Jersey.  I was rolling the dice that this place would have some vinyl, I couldn't find a phone number that anyone would answer and I was low on time to find anything further east from Pennsylvania where I needed to return to.  So onto Village Thrift!

Village Thrift was enormous and had a gigantic packing lot.  My eyes darted left and right in search of vinyl.  If they didn't have any, it would take some doing to find somewhere else on such short notice.  

Well I won and I lost.  They did indeed have vinyl, but only the saddest selection you could imagine, I think there were 5-6 platters total and all junk.  I kept thinking 'there must be more' but alas there were none to be found.  So I made my way back to green pastures in Philly.

So while I came up empty handed, I was able to legitimately check state #34 off my list and I hope I get back to explore what NJ has to offer in terms of vinyl soon.  I already have a trip planned to Vermont for the end of the month which will entirely complete the east coast - Maine to Florida! Stay tuned!

Goodwill [Wilmington DE]

It took me until I was all the way in Pennsylvania again to realize that Delaware and New Jersey were really close by! So I made some adjustments to my already packed itinerary to check these states off my list, as who knows when I will have the chance again!

I decided on a regular old Goodwill as time was so limited.  While I didn't find anything I was impressed with the nice selection of Eng records so I displayed them nicely for the world to see here.

So that would be state #33 for anyone keeping track - so glad to know that I was able to zoom through and handle some vinyl during my jaunt!

Goodwill, Downers Grove

I swore I had never been to this place.  I was tooling around and had to make a run to Trader Joe's.  The local grocery stopped carrying the coffee that my girlfriend likes and Trader Joe's is is other favorite.  I don't mind going as I drink the coffee as well and I also like to buy myself some random stuff there.  I normally go to the Trader Joe's in Glen Elyn but due to my aforementioned 'tooling around', the Downers Grove store was closer.  As I pull up I was shocked to see a Goodwill in the same strip mall.  How could this be? Turns out I have been there before, but it has been over three years!

The wall of records I saw back then was gone, replaced by the standard issue LP bin.  I found a load of Engelbert I haven't seen in a while and some other gems.  Largest of all (which I walked away with) was another Marion Lush album.  Great condition too! I have spotted the mono version of the Brasil 66 debut a few times, I got my own a while ago, but it is always temping to just pile 'em up.  I passed.

Two soundtracks - both with great title cuts, did a catch and release on both, though it was difficult.  Up at the counter, they even had a couple REO albums hidden back there.  I've seen Goodwill do this before, but then when I asked to see they were labeled quite cheap.  Who knows.  A worthwhile stop!